Lie under a desert sky at night, go hedge-hopping in an RAF Tornado, get a refund from the Inland Revenue – there are some things in life that everyone should experience and driving a V12 engined Jaguar is one of them. Put that V12 in an E-Type and you have the motoring equivalent of Viagra.

Weighing just a few pounds more than the smaller XK 4.2 engine it replaced, the alloy blocked 5.3 V12 produced only slightly more power (272 instead of 265bhp) but vastly more torque (349 instead of 283lb/ft). This results in a quite different driving experience: gone is the XK snarl, replaced by quiet thunder and a sense of huge momentum in place of raw acceleration.

With a sub-7 seconds 0-60 time and taking only another 9 seconds to reach 100mph, the V12 was the fastest E-type of all and could cruise at 140mph – if fuel consumption wasn’t an issue. Properly maintained, this unstressed giant also has a reputation for unburstable reliability.

First registered in March 1974, this particular V12 Coupe has had just two owners from new and has been in the current ownership since 1980. The 48,500 miles on the clock is warranted genuine and is backed up by many old MOTs and service records in the history file.

A desirable manual gearbox example, it is said to be in totally original and unmolested condition throughout apart from a high quality repaint in the early 1980s when the vendor also decided to paint the roof Rolls-Royce Regal Red which, combined with the original Old English White, makes for a very striking combination.

Said to be in very good condition throughout and to drive beautifully, it has recently been treated to a new water pump, radiator, suspension gaiters and a reconditioned steering rack. A quantity of useful spares is also available by separate negotiation if desired, including a pair of rechromed front and rear bumpers.

Supplied with its original owner’s handbook and a good history file, this matching numbers machine is MOTd until July and will have 6 months’ tax before the auction. Unrestored E-Types like this are a prized commodity and nearly always drive better than ones that have been ripped apart and rebuilt. All this one needs is a proud third owner behind the wheel.